Iran appeared to be preparing to hold 10 U.S. Navy sailors overnight, after having seized them and their two boats earlier in the day.
Iran’s move was threatening to embarrass President Obama Tuesday night, when he was due to deliver his last State of the Union speech to Congress. In that speech, Obama was expected to make the case that his administration has made real progress in the area of foreign affairs. The news also comes as Iran is on the verge of receiving at least $100 billion in sanctions relief under the Iran nuclear deal.
But reports from CNN indicated that while Iran intends to return the sailors, it won’t do so until Wednesday, well after Obama’s speech is concluded. CNN said senior U.S. officials said they have been in contact with the U.S. sailors, but that they are not expected to be returned until the next day.
The 10 sailors and two U.S. Navy boats were taken into Iranian custody on Tuesday while sailing in the Persian Gulf. The Pentagon said that Iran has assured the U.S. that the crew and watercraft will be returned quickly.
“Earlier today, we lost contact with two small U.S. naval craft en route from Kuwait to Bahrain. We subsequently have been in communication with Iranian authorities, who have informed us of the safety and well-being of our personnel. We have received assurances the sailors will promptly be allowed to continue their journey,” according to a statement by Pentagon spokeswoman Cmdr. Linda Rojas.
The Defense Department released photos and video of the type of boat that was captured. The photos showed a riverine command boat, a heavily armed watercraft with .50-cal machine guns that belongs to Navy Expeditionary Combat Command. Such boats typically have a camouflage paint scheme.
The incident reportedly occurred near Farsi Island in the middle of the Gulf. Rep. Ryan Zinke, R-Mont., tweeted that the incident was due to “potential mechanical failure.”
A senior administration official told reporters Tuesday afternoon that the administration is aware of the situation and hoping to resolve it quickly.
“We are aware of the circumstances…we’re working to resolve the situation in a way that any U.S. personnel are returned to their normal deployment,” said White House Deputy National Security Adviser Ben Rhodes. “We hope to resolve the situation.”
CNN reported that Secretary of State John Kerry is in touch with Iranian officials on the matter.
On CNN Tuesday afternoon, White House spokesman Josh Earnest defended the decision to ease sanctions against Iran once Iran follows through with its part of the Iran nuclear agreement, despite the seizure of the two Navy boats.
When asked how the U.S. could ease sanctions after Tuesday’s event, Earnest replied, “Because these were sanctions that were imposed on Iran over their nuclear program, and as soon as Iran takes the steps they’ve committed to take, and those steps can be verified by international nuclear experts, then we’ll know that Iran will not develop a nuclear weapon.”
“We’re going to continue to have sanctions in place against Iran because of their support for terrorism, we’re going to continue to have sanctions in place because of their continued development of their ballistic missile program,” he added.
Sen. Kelly Ayotte, R-N.H., indicated in a tweet on Tuesday that the Obama administration’s early assurances aren’t enough.
“‘Assurances’?” she asked. “The Obama administration should demand that #Iran return our sailors and boats immediately.”
Rep. Frank LoBiondo, R-N.J., tweeted, “If Iran is unwilling to promptly release US sailors detained today, sanctions must NOT be lifted as planned this month.”
The Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group is in the Persian Gulf. In December, Iranian navy ships fired “several unguided rockets” about 1,500 yards from the Truman, the destroyer Bulkeley and a French frigate in the Strait of Hormuz.
In April, Iran seized a Marshall Islands-flagged commercial vessel in the Strait of Hormuz over a shipping dispute, and released the crew and ship safely days later.
Susan Crabtree contributed to this report.
